travelling with strangers?

littlesurfer

just a quick question. Has anyone ever gone travelling with someone they don't know. I found a website that advertises travel buddies. I've been travellin a good few times before and I think this will be a big final blowout trip. I'l be ready to go in september and that would be the perfect time for me, i don't want to wait but none of my friends want to go or can afford it by then. Any ideas or thoughts? I'm an easygoing person and i think i'm a pretty good travelmate! Has anyone ever done this?

empirix

Not quite, i have hooked up with buddies from hostels or guesthouses/bars and travelled with them, many of them are quite good mates now and its handy cause now i have a free place to stay in many different countries. I went out with a finnish girl who travelled with another girl who she met through one of those websites, they hooked up before hand and went out for drinks togehter (brought their friends out too), that might be a pretty cool way to do it if there from the same area etc.

Bradidup

Its very common to travel with strangers in Australia, back packers pitch in for petrol travelling cross the country. Put notices in hostel notice boards etc. I did it in a combi in 1993

dublad23

What's the website? WOuld be intersted having a look

Thanks

rediguana

OP, you appear to have the perfect attitude for this type of thing, and I'm sure that travelling with strangers would suit you. They soon become friends when everyone's far from home. I met and hung around with many people on my travels in Oz (etc), and it's generally accepted that I'm pretty antisocial

Jenny Who?

I'd like the address of the website too!
Could you post it?
-Also, it might be useful for you to check out the site travelhapppy.info: they have some really good arguments for why it is, in many ways, better to set off on these blow-out trips in your own, and hook up with different people along the way. You often get a much more eclectic travel experience!
http://travelhappy.info/travel-tips/seven-reasons-to-go-travelling-solo/

littlesurfer

the site is travelbuddyon.net i've just put myself on there but i'm a bit dubious about it. Does anyone have any ideas where's a good place to start travelling if your heading off alone? You know somewhere where there'd be other people bumming around.

Oh and if anyone is reading this and into the idea of heading off then pm me cause i'm your girl.

littlesurfer

Thanks jenny who, just reading that site and it sounds great....!

dublad23

I'm heading away in 2 weeks to Oz - would love to have someone to travel with

If anyone feels like dropping everything bar their pants then send me a PM!

Jenny Who?

No problem littlesurfer! Glad you found it helpfull-
I was in the same kind of situation as you, and reading it made me really excited about all the possibilities open to you when travelling alone!
Where is it you're thinking of going?

Aura

Yeah in similar situation too. Thinking of South America.
Sites look very interesting.
Keep us posted on how you get on..

A.

littlesurfer

oh i'd love to go to oz but two weeks is a bit too soon...wanna wait a month or so? I found some good stuff on i to i for conservation work which might be a good way to kick off a trip!!! like i said anyone looking to hit thr road keep in touch

cailinoBAC

On Hospitality club (www.hospitalityclub.org) there is a section in the forum for finding travel companions. I've never used this, but I have used the site for offering and finding accommodation and you can read comments about other users, so you should get some idea if the people are ok!

Jenny Who?

I'm thinking of either South America or South East Asia in October, for a mix of backpacking and volunteering.
I'm planning on heading off solo, but if anyone's going in the same direction around the same time and fancies the idea of having some re-inforcement, at least for the first few weeks, drop me a PM.

Ideo

@littlesurfer: i wouldn't recommend i-2-i! they aren't a charity but a profit making body and charge a hefty fee. a friend of mine went to south america and spent a month in an animal sanctuary(sp) and paid €250 a week for the privledge. the other volunteers just showed up and the sanctuary only charged them €90 a week so you may be better just ringing up charities directly yourself and try to organise it that way. at least the money will make more of a difference to them than lining somebody's pockets!

littlesurfer

Jenny Who trip sounds amazing probably the same time..ish that i'm going keep in touch and you might have a bit of company for a few weeks!

Sundy

This thread is a great idea. i had planned on on goin to south america but i couldnt get anybody to go with me so i abandened my plans. People seems to be more interested in J1s. I have travelled on my own before and didnt want to do it. I had also considered going on one of those kumuka tours where you spend the whole trip with the same people, supposedly there quite popular with solo travellers.

littlesurfer

I've never heard of those tours before...how does it work and where do they tend to go? Are you still interested in going sundy or have to forgotten the idea now...

littlesurfer

i just looked up that kumuka tours thing..i would love to do their best of africa tour...its 63 days long or something close to that and you can include a 7 day trek of mt kilamunjaro.......it seems reasonable...2600....probably not including flights though

Sundy

littlesurfer wrote:

i just looked up that kumuka tours thing..i would love to do their best of africa tour...its 63 days long or something close to that and you can include a 7 day trek of mt kilamunjaro.......it seems reasonable...2600....probably not including flights though

Thats sounds like its only the basic fee, usually theres local charges and then you have to get ur flights as well..

Well i had kinda forgotten the idea but im finished college this year and it may be one of my last chances to travel, so if i could get the money together i mite resurect it! Drop me a pm anyway an let me know wat kinda trip you have in mind

Jenny Who?

Hi guys,
I was checking out those Kumuka tours, and while they sound amazing on their own websites, there are a lot of comments on other sites of people giving out about them. Saying you're hurried along, and dont geta chance t break from the group to explore/spend time etc. Also that there are obligatory sing-songs on the bus to get everyone in the mood each morning!
-I think it depends on what you like, but, personally, after the initial novelty wears off, that sound like my idea of hell!;)
-Check it out before you invest!!

**Stardust***

I'm 26, fed up with my job, a decent bit saved and want to go travelling. Where can I find some people in a similar position that want to go travelling?

I'm not particularly a billy-no-mates but when my friends were off around the world, I was all loved-up at the time!! (I'm a girl by the way so want to travel in a group for safety).

Ideally, not tagging along with a group of long established friends but with a few loners all joined up haha

Any suggestions appreciated

**Stardust***

Apologies, just saw similar thread below also

BuffyBot

Threads merged.

littlesurfer

Thanks for that jenny, i actually had the credit card out, but the dates i wanted for the african trip were sold out, anyway your description sounds like my idea of hell too so mybe i should look into it a bit more....i don't do singing in the mornings! Stardust i sent you a pm!

Jenny Who?

No problem. -I don't mean to be discouraging, but just check it out first, cuz t'is big bucks and quite a few bad reviews!
**Stardust**, when and where are you thinking of going??
I'm a female, 23, experienced traveler and in a similar situation - as, I believe, is Littlesurfer.
Some moral support would probably be handy for all of us!
-At least in the beginning of our trips.

Niloc

Hey,
Im travelling to Japan in June, hope 2 work out there, and then on to China/Mongolia/Russia(trans-siberain). All my mates say they want to work and save money this summer, so im finding it hard to find people to go with. Anyone interested or know someone who'll be out there around then?
Anyone who's travelled to these places, any advice greatly apprieciated